Free Money

ATM gives out extra cash

'MANSFIELD, La. (AP) - An ATM at a northwest Louisiana truck stop gave out $20 bills instead of $5s, but authorities say they know who took the extra $7,000 the machine spit out and plan to track them down.

Lt. Toni Morris, a spokesperson for the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office, said the automated teller machine has records showing 26 people received the extra cash during five days in late June and early July.

Annette Parker, a supervisor at Eagle's Truck Stop, said she unplugged the machine after overhearing conversations about the excess payments.

"The next morning when we had come back in, someone had plugged it back up," she said.

Morris said someone who did not work at the truck stop may have rigged the machine, which keeps records of when the money was taken and by whom.

Morris said charges could be brought against the people who got more money than they should have.'